In just a few days, Farmersville will once again host over 100 area veterans as the city pays tribute to them along with its favorite son and war hero, Audie Murphy.
The 21st Audie Murphy Day celebration is happening Saturday, June 18 following a two-year absence due to COVID. The all-day affair kicks off at 7:30 a.m. with registration and a free breakfast to welcome veterans at First Baptist Church of Farmersville, located at 124 S. Washington Street.
Earlier in the week, volunteer Jim Foy said 105 veterans were signed up for Audie Murphy Day. Although the number is down slightly, Foy said it was “expected after missing two years due to COVID.”
To register, veterans are asked to call the city at 972-784-6846 during its regular business hours, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday – Thursday, and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
The parade will start Saturday at 10 a.m. featuring the Cavalry Guard and Brass Band from Fort Hood to lead the parade through downtown Farmersville.
For anyone who is interested in entering a float in the parade, the city website has a form posted under the Main Street tab on its farmersvilletx.com landing page. Participants can register for free to walk, ride in a vehicle, ride a bicycle, motorcycle, horse or float in the parade provided it is not political in nature.
Horse owners are cautioned that there will be loud noises from the military band.
Local veterans are asked to register at the church to ride in the parade on a float especially for them.
Following the parade there will be a ceremony at the Onion Shed at 10:30 a.m. featuring Patrick Baumann, a representative of Holtzwihr, a city in northeastern France, to call attention to the sister-city arrangement that was signed in 2021 between the two communities. There will then be a presentation of a wheel taken from the armored vehicle that Murphy attacked during the World War II fire fight that resulted in his receiving the Medal of Honor.
Following the conclusion of the Onion Shed ceremony, there will be a luncheon for veterans at noon at First Baptist Church.
Afternoon activities for residents and visitors include a Women in the Military exhibit hosted by the Farmersville Historical Society from noon to 3 p.m. at the Bain-Honaker House at 108 College Street and a special Audie Murphy and Sister City exhibition at the Farmersville Heritage Museum.
For those in town Friday, June 17, the museum will host a special Quilts of Valor exhibit and reception from 5:30 to 7:30 followed by a free showing of the 1955 film, “To Hell and Back,” at Fine Arts on Main located at 135 S. Main St.in Farmersville.
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